Goa: A study by a Goa Institute of Management (GIM) researcher has found that blockchain technology could improve transparency, pricing and trust in international agricultural trade by reducing information gaps between buyers and sellers.
The research, published in the journal Advances in Consumer Research, examined the international tomato trade and developed an economic model showing how blockchain-based quality verification could improve outcomes for producers, exporters, importers and food processors.
The study, led by Raj V. Amonkar, Professor of Operations and Supply Chain Management at GIM, focused on the Brix level—a recognised measure of sweetness and processing quality—as a verifiable quality indicator. The blockchain-based framework allows buyers to access tamper-proof quality records before completing transactions, reducing uncertainty over product quality.
According to the findings, blockchain-enabled verification narrows the information gap between buyers and sellers, increases buyers’ willingness to pay for higher-quality produce, reduces contractual disputes and lowers inspection costs. The model also suggests that greater transparency encourages producers to maintain higher quality standards while improving overall trade efficiency.
Beyond tomatoes, the study says the framework could be applied to other high-value agricultural products such as fruits, spices, coffee and seafood, where product quality is often difficult to verify before purchase.
Commenting on the findings, Amonkar said transparent and secure recording of product quality could help create more efficient and sustainable agri-food supply chains while reducing disputes in cross-border trade.
The researchers noted that the framework integrates blockchain technology with economic modelling using real-world data on product quality, logistics costs and contractual arrangements, making it applicable to a wider range of agricultural supply chains.
